<?php
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$xhtml = array(
	'<{title}>' => 'Pending failure',
	'takedown' => '2017-11-01',
	'<{body}>' => <<<END
<img src="/img/CC_BY-SA_4.0/y.st./weblog/2018/10/31.jpg" alt="At least the conifers keep their leaves" class="framed-centred-image" width="649" height="480"/>
<section id="drudgery">
	<h2>Drudgery</h2>
	<p>
		I failed the other quiz for the week.
		We were required to convert population distributions into sampling distributions, then give specific statistics based on them.
		I don&apos;t recall us ever covering how to do that.
		We approximated sampling distributions by collecting thousands of samples, but I don&apos;t recall us using any method that would provide concrete answers that wouldn&apos;t vary slightly.
		The sampling method doesn&apos;t work when you have to provide exact and precise answers.
		Ugh.
		I don&apos;t know what I&apos;m going to do.
		Oh, joy.
		I just remembered that the final exam&apos;s got to be taken on a foreign computer.
		I won&apos;t have access to even R, the software we&apos;ve been using to perform our calculations all term.
		I&apos;m going into this not only without the necessary knowledge, but also with a handicap.
		I stand no chance.
	</p>
	<p>
		Ignoring the irreparable damage this&apos;ll do to my $a[GPA], it also sets me back two terms; at least five months.
		I won&apos;t have the final course passed that I need for my associate degree.
		Next term&apos;s courses are pretty much set in stone, too.
		I needed proctored courses, so I had to already arrange with a proctor that I&apos;d be taking certain courses.
		If I switch now, I&apos;ll be a flake.
		That means I need to wait until the term after next term to try this course again.
		It&apos;ll be two whole terms before I can get back to where I though I was until yesterday.
		And of course, then I need to wait for the degree-approval process to finish up, which could take up to another term.
		(That&apos;s time I&apos;d have to wait even without failing this course though, so isn&apos;t a part of the delay added by not understanding parts of this course.)
		I estimate it&apos;ll be at least half a year before I have my associate degree now.
	</p>
	<p>
		In the mean time, I guess I still need to work on cleaning up my life.
		First off, I already said part of this coming break would be spent on improving my organisation.
		That&apos;ll help make me more efficient end therefore have more time left to study when the time comes to take the course again.
		My other goal for the break was to work on this hair-removal issue.
		Without this unwanted body hair, I should be more confident and not be spending as much time fretting about my appearance.
		I&apos;ll be less distracted during the retake.
		Current plans must continue.
	</p>
	<p>
		Lastly, I can&apos;t dwell on this upcoming failure.
		It won&apos;t be healthy to do that.
		I need to use this delay to my advantage as best I can.
		This setback has pretty much killed my job-hunting plans for the time being.
		That means I have more time to fix myself before I job hunt.
		If I somehow manage to pass, I&apos;ll job hunt as previously planned during the break after this next one, when I&apos;ll have my degree in hand.
		If I fail as it seems I will, I&apos;ll spend the two added breaks before my degree fixing various problems with myself.
		I&apos;ll be a better person by the time I escape my current, toxic job.
	</p>
	<p>
		My discussion posts for the day:
	</p>
	<blockquote>
		<p>
			Yeah, we have spent weeks learning these things.
			I&apos;ve found in the two quizzes this week that I&apos;ve missed some pretty big things, too.
			For example, apparently were we covered how to convert a population distribution into a sampling distribution.
			I don&apos;t remember us doing that!
			We sampled the same population repeatedly to <strong>*approximate*</strong> the sampling distribution, but each time you try that, you end up with a slightly different result due to the randomness of the samples.
			So I failed those questions because my answers weren&apos;t exact.
			I don&apos;t think I&apos;ll manage to pass the final exam, to be honest.
			So I&apos;m completely in agreement that trying to explain these concepts to someone that hasn&apos;t spent all that time working with these things hands-on wouldn&apos;t be an easy task.
		</p>
		<p>
			You say that there&apos;s a chance you&apos;ll lose accuracy if the sample size is too small.
			You don&apos;t just lose accuracy for small samples though.
			You lose accuracy every time by using samples instead of population data.
			With small samples though, you lose a lot more accuracy.
			This is a very important distinction, especially when dealing with cases in which you need exact and precise answers, such as the upcoming exam.
		</p>
	</blockquote>
	<blockquote>
		<p>
			Seeking support when you find yourself unable to cope can be a great strategy for most people, and I&apos;m glad you pulled through.
			Some of us don&apos;t have support networks though.
			When I&apos;m feeling overwhelmed, I&apos;ve got nowhere to turn.
			I&apos;m alone.
			Most of the time, that&apos;s just fine, but there are situations in which I could really use a hand.
		</p>
	</blockquote>
</section>
END
);
